Your Blogging Staff

Contributing to this blog:
- "Dave" is Dave Barry, who is a humor columnist and presidential contender.
- "judi" is Judi Smith, who is Dave's Research Department, as well as being interested in men.
- "Walter" is Walter, a bone from the penis of a walrus.

Let me get this straight, the planes are so automated that the pilot pushes a button to initiate the message rather than getting on the PA system and doing it live? If I am being told of my impending death, I don't want it lipsynched. Too many damn buttons, I'd say.

Couldn't the announcement have been more specific? I'd want to know what body of water we were heading for. Do I need to dig out my Barry Manilow picture to scare away sharks, or protect myself from flying carp?

WVplantman: The PAs the pilots make are never automated. A lot, maybe even most, of the safety-demo PAs and the like that the flight attendants make *are* automated. I'm certain this was the latter.

I'm equally certain this was triggered by some random electrical anomaly. It's fairly common for the switch from ship's power to ground power (or vice-versa) to trigger our "welcome aboard" PA in either French or Spanish, and I'd be willing to bet if the British AAIB looks at the flight data recorder, they'll find a similar electrical anomaly right before this started playing.

OT/ For bloggers and bloggerettas who enjoy the NY Times Sunday crossword puzzle (and I'm guessing there's more than a few of you), you should also check out Rex Parker, who provides an amusing critique of same.